Overview
Radiation-labeled items are not allowed in rooms that are not authorized and posted RAM!
Items or equipment labeled with a RAM sticker are not allowed to be used or stored in any room that is not authorized for RAM use. Examples might include liquid scintillation counters (LSC), centrifuges, shielding, waste containers, pipettes, pigs (RAM source containers), and other items or equipment. Some sample images are provided.
One of the most common occurrences is when the lab decides to move a piece of equipment from a RAM-permitted room to a different room that is not approved for RAM use (a centrifuge is a common culprit) and/or the use of the equipment no longer involves the use of RAM. Often the equipment will be in a room under their control, but not on their RAM permit, and the equipment has not been properly decommissioned/defaced. It is much less common for lab staff to be using RAM in an unapproved room.
It is a common work activity for our technicians to audit labs that use open source radioactive material (covered under our broadscope license). A lab can also possess RAM under our general license. The general license applies to sealed sources that are most commonly integrated into a piece of a equipment (e.g., gas chromatograph (GC), LSC). The specific use location of the generally license device is registered with the state and must be modified if moved. Therefore, a lab cannot move a GC to a different location without notifying Radiation Safety, so the license can be revised. The moving of such devices would also affect door posting pictogram requirements.
It is important to note that not all GCs will include a radioactive source. The radioactive source is specific to a special type of detector called an electron capture detector or ECD. A GC can be equipped with many types of detectors which do not incorporate a radioactive source. So, if you find a GC, be sure to ask if it is equipped with an electron capture detector (should be labeled with a RAM sticker). We just looked over photos of GCs.
If you find an item with a RAM label in a non-authorized room, ask the occupant why it is there. Upon returning to EHS, consult with the ARSO or RSO (Radiation Safety Officer) and determine whether this should be cited as a violation of this checklist item. If the lab is using open source RAM in an unapproved room, we need to know this immediately.